SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The U.S. Border Patrol says two groups of seafaring, illegal immigrants have been caught coming ashore along Southern California’s coast — including 18 people who landed at the Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton.
U.S. Border Patrol agent Michael Jimenez says agents detained 16 Mexican citizens traveling in a skiff after they came ashore around 1:50 a.m. Tuesday near Leucadia.
He says agents acting on a call from military officials also detained 18 others walking across Camp Pendleton a few hours later after they had been dropped off by a boat.
Agents have caught illegal immigrants entering San Diego County by sea more than 60 times since Oct. 1. There were 49 smuggling cases by sear in the fiscal year 2009.